Manchester hotel occupancy at new high

HOTEL occupancy rates in Manchester are now outperforming peak levels reached in 2006 and 2007, according to new data.

Marketing Manchester said the city centre had an average occupancy rate of 76% in the first eight months of the year – a figure previously unmatched at this point in the year since its records began.

This figure has been sustained by record weekday rates averaging 75% and strong performing weekend rates of 81%.

The city centre has around 2,100 hotel rooms in the pipeline – extending to 2,700 in Greater Manchester. At present there are 7,000 in the city centre and 19,500 across Greater Manchester.

Marketing Manchester chief executive Andrew Stokes said: “We are thrilled with the latest hotel occupancy data which indicates a significant achievement for our hotel and tourism industry. Current demand means that we are now exceeding the rates experienced in pre-recession years, but we are also in the cusp of a dramatic increase in supply to meet this.

“The challenge will now be to make the most of this opportunity for further growth and to sustain occupancy figures as room numbers increase. A number of hotel operators that are brand new to Greater Manchester have shown their confidence in the industry by investing here and we will work with them and existing hotels to help continue the occupancy trajectory.”